Toilet-paper server and package of paper therefor.



'PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

- S. WHEELER. TOILET PAPER SERVER AND PACKAGE OF PAPER THEREFOR.

APPLICATION IILED MAY 12, 1899.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

no noun.

A Home No. 730,997. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

S. WHEELER.

TOILET PAPER SERVER AND PACKAGE OF PAPER THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1899.

NO MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' 11v VENTOR WITNESSES" m: cams vzrtns co. Puorouma. wAsHmcToN, D. c

Patented June 16, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

SETH WHEELER, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

TOILET-PAPER SERVER AND PACKAGE OF PAPERTHEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,997, dated June 16, 1903.

Application filed May 12,1899. Serial 'No. 716,575. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SETH WHEELER, of Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toilet-Paper Servers and in the Packages of Paper; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in toilet-paper servers and inthe package of paper to be used therein, the object of the invention being to so construct the server and so form the sheets of paper that the operation of withdrawing the outer sheet serves to partially withdraw the sheet next behind, so that after the server has been loaded and one sheet withdrawn or partially withdrawn the next sheet would be exposed in a position to be readily grasped, thus obviating the necessityof manuallyturning the feed-roll, which has heretofore been used in devices of this character.

\Vith this object in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a view in front elevation of my improved server. Fig. 2 is a view of same in vertical cross-section, the front sheet of paper being shown in a position ready for complete'delivery, while the lower end of the sheet next behind is shown in a partially-delivered state. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 4.- is a view of a single sheet of paper, the upper end of which being cut away in accordance with my invention; and Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 represent dilferent forms of sheets constructedin accordance with myinvention.

A represents a rectangular-shaped case, preferably constructed of metal, the lower front section thereof being curved outwardly or enlarged for the reception of roller 1, which latter is roughened or coated with rubber on its outer surface and is suitably mounted in bearings formed in the sides of said outwardly-curved or enlarged section. The

front of this curved or enlarged section is provided with a slot 2 for the introduction of a finger when it is necessary to rotate roller 1,

as is the case with the first sheet of each package. A pawl 3 engages thetoothed wheel carried by feed-roller 1 and prevents the latter from being rotated in the wrong direction.

Mounted on each side of caseA and at diametrically opposite points near its upper end are the L-shaped spring-actuated arms 4, the short members thereof exerting pressure in a forward direction against the rear face of follower-plate (l, which latter is supported and adapted to move forwardly upon the bottom of said case A. y

The package of paper 7 designed for use with this server is composed of a series of loose sheets, preferably of the'form shown in Fig. 4, said sheets being held together by a pin 8, which latter passes through the sheets at a suitable point between their upper ends, the free ends of said pin being bent downwardly for the purpose of entering the recess or seats located in the front and back sections of the case A, respectively, whereby said sheets, comprising package 7, are supported in a vertical position within said case. The bottom of case A is provided with a slot 9, through which the sheets of paper to be served pass. The roller 1 rests within the curved or enlarged section of case A and in a plane in advance of slot 9 with its inner edge in a line with said slot, so that when the sheet of paper in contact with said roller is moved downwardly by the latter it passes through the slot in a position to be grasped by the fingers. After the first sheet has been partially served or delivered through slot 9 by mannally revolving roller 1, as hereinbefore specified, the operation of serving and delivering the remaining sheets comprising package 7 becomes continuous by simply withdrawing the sheet that has been partly ejected by the complete withdrawal of the sheet next in advance.

The sheets comprising the package 7 have a portion at one end of a different area from the similar portion at the other end of the sheet-that is to say, the sheets are each cut away at their upper ends .or at a point or points intermediate their upper ends, while the lower ends of said sheets are preferably at right angles to their sides. Hence it will be seen that as the upper cut-away portion of one sheet comes opposite the feed-roller it exposes to the roughened face of the latter a portion or portions of the sheet next behind, so that the further revolution of the feedroller carries downwardly not only the first or outer sheet, but also the next adjacent sheet, and by the time the first sheet has been withdrawn the second sheet has been carried downwardly through the slot to be grasped by the fingers. By now grasping this second sheet and pulling on it the'feed-roller is revolved by its contactwith the moving sheet, and as the upper end of the latter nears the feed-roller the latter engages the next adjacent sheet and moves it downwardly, and so on until the last sheet has been delivered.

The bottom of case A is provided with a second slot 10, located at right angles to slot 9 and terminating therein, by means of which access to the lower part of said case may be had for the purpose of moving follower 6 rearwardly when anew package of paper is to be placed within the case.

The front of case A is provided with a suitv ably-shaped opening, in which is mounted a pane of glass 11, through which it may readily be ascertained when the package of paper is about to be or has become exhausted.

A hinged cover.12 is provided for the open *end of case A and is adapted tobe locked to theback section thereofby a lock 13 or other suitable locking means. a

While I have shown several ways of reducing at certain points the surface of the sheets from which package 7 is composed, it is evident that the stock of said sheets may be reduced in various other ways and at points remote from the upper ends of said sheets, and hence I would have it understood.

that I do not in any wise restrict myself to the exact form shown and described, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations in the form of said sheets as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invenwill be made to project partially from the same, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a case and a package of superimposed sheets of paper, a portion at oneend of each sheet having a different area from the similar portion at the other end of the sheet so that during the withdrawal of one sheet, some portion of the next sheet will be exposed to the action of the feed device, of a single roll-feed device constructed and arranged to bear simultaneously on two sheets when one of them shall have been partially withdrawn from the case.

3. The combination with a case and a feed device, of a package of superimposed sheets of paper, a spring-actuated follower adapted to press the lower portion of the package of paper toward the feed device, each sheet of paper having portions at one end similar in contour atboth sides of the center, but of a different area from the similar portion at the other end of the sheet so that when a sheet shall have been partially withdrawn from the case the feed device will bear against it and also the succeeding sheet.

4. A package of toilet-paper consisting of a number of superimposed sheets, each being cut away near one end only, at diametrically opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the sheet, each sheet when moved longitudinally, exposing through the cut-away portions the body of the next sheet.

5. A package of toiletpaper, comprising a number of superimposed sheets, all being the same in shape, dimensions and area, and each sheet having less area at respective sides of its center at one end of the sheet than the area of the corresponding portions at the other end of the sheet, portions of the surfaces of two adjacent sheets being simultaneously exposed on the same transverse line when one of said sheets is moved longitudinally with respect to the other.

6. A package of paper for the purpose set forth, consisting ofa number of superimposed sheets and suspending means at the upper end of said package, the upper suspended ends of the sheets being cut away so as to have less area at respective sides of the longitudinal center thereof than the corresponding portions of the other end of the sheet, whereby when one sheet is moved longitudinally, a portion of the next sheet will be exposed through the cut-away portions of the first sheet.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SETH WHEELER. Witnesses:

S. G. NOTTINGHAM, G. S. DRURY. 

